Kia recalls nearly 500,000 Tellurides, warns owners to park outside over fire risk

(WWJ) Kia America is recalling nearly half a million Kia Telluride SUVs, warning owners not to park in garages or parking decks because of a fire risk.

The recall impacts 462,869 Kia Tellurides (model year 2020-2024). The automaker says the SUVs must be parked away from buildings and other vehicles until the problem is fixed. These same vehicles were recalled in 2024.

According to the automaker, in the event the front power seat slide cover or knob is hit, the switch can be dislodged or damaged, causing the seat motor to operate continuously and overheat. An improper repair during the previous recall may also contribute to the motor overheating.

Kia says it's aware of seven seat fires and 11 seat motors melting. It says it will notify impacted owners by August 13. Dealers will install an electronic fuse assembly to prevent the seat motor's ongoing operation.

Owners can search for affected vehicle identification numbers and license plate numbers on nhtsa.gov beginning on July 17.
Owners can also call NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

The Kia customer service number is 1-800-333-4542, and owners can access their Kia portal for more information.